marlow and michael ralph



MARLOW & RALPHE.

Lantern.

Patented Aug. 30, 1859.

UNITE STATS PA ET nnion GEO. MARLOW AND MICHAEL RALPH, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO J. D. BROVN, W. C. VALLETTE, AND G. MARLOV, OF SAME PLACE.

LAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent N 0. 25,304, dated August 30, 1859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE MARLow and MICHAEL RALPH, both of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lanterns; and we hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

The first part of our invention consists in a peculiar arrangement of divided reflector to facilitate giving access to the lamp without removing it from the lantern.

The second part of our invention relates to a manner of applying and arranging glazed doors of different colors to adapt the lantern to purposes of signaling.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 2, is a perspective view. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken a little above the bottom. Fig. i is a longitudinal section of the lower portion without the lamp.

The case A, has a perforated floor B, and a little below it an imperforate floor G extending nearly over the entire area of the lantern and having above it on one or more sides openings to admit air. The entering draft is com elled to pass around the edges of the floor and after rising through the perforations of the floor B, impinges against deflectors or fenders D before entering the principal chamber of the lantern. By means of this arrangement all sudden and irregular drafts to the flame of the lamp, tending to cause unsteady and imperfect combustion are prevented.

The lens F is of a plano-convex form with its flat side inward and is on its outer or convex side flattened toward its apex or pole. Its surfaces are preferred to be covered with slight irregularities. This formation is found to diffuse and mingle the rays and has the effect at a distance to increase the apparent area of the illuminated disk. The lens F, is set in a slight groove or recess in a funnel formed tube H, I, of which the portion H on the outer or convex side of the lens is of a cylindrical shape while the inner part I may be the frustum of a cone or of a paravoloid a portion of the upper side being cut away to accommodate the flame. This funnel shaped piece is silvered on its inner surface and constitutes the front portion or section of the reflector, the rear portion of which consists in a shallow cup like piece J, also silvered on its concave surface and attached by its back to the door K of the lantern in a position coincident with the common axis of the front reflector and of the lens. The rear reflector J may be either the apex. of the parabola formed by the front section of the reflector or it may have a flat spherical or conical form. The cylindrical reflector H outside of the lens prevents the dispersion and absorption of the rays and concentrates the light in the desired direction.

The described arrangement of a parabolic or conical reflector I, open behind, in combination with the cup formed reflector J attached to the door, serves to effectually reflect the back and side rays yet the act of opening the door affords complete and instant access for the inspection, trimming or removal of the lamp.

M, M, are two doors hinged each to one of the front edges of the lantern and each provided with a pane of colored glass. hen not in use each of these illuminated doors is secured back against the side of the lantern by a button N, but when one or other of the colors is desired it can be instantly brought forward and secured in front of the lens, so as to show a red, a green or other light according to the color of the pane. Thus is afforded a very convenient and compact means of using the lantern for purposes of signaling. These glazed doors folding so compactly back against the lantern sides are not liable to fracture from violence.

WVe are aware that lantern reflectors have been constructed in separate pieces or with detachable backs, and also that signal lanterns have been provided with glasses of different colors, adapted to be fixed at will in front of the light.

The advantage of the first part of our invention is that simply opening the door suffices to give access to the lamp for inspection and trimming or to admit of its removal from the lantern when required; which advantage is obtained without farther reduction of the reflecting surface than is needful to accommodate the wick and flame of (the lamp, and without rendering it necessary under any circumstances to detach either portion of the reflector from the part of the lantern to which it is secured.

The benefit of the specific arrangement which forms the subject of the second part of our invention is that whether in use or 2. The described arrangement of glazed doors M and M hinged vertically to the front angles of the lantern, and adapted in the manner set forth to be fixed either in front of the lantern or against one or other of'its sides for the purposes explained.

In testimony of Which invention, We hereunto set our hands.

GEORGE MARLOWV. MICHAEL RALPH.

\Vitnesses GEO. H. KNIGHT, FRANCIS MILLWARD. 

